Fixture for mounting fluorescent lighting structures



June 13, 1950 w. H. LONG 2,511,440

FIXTURE FOR MOUNTING F LUORESCENT v LIGHTING STRUCTURES Filed Feb. 2, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l ..1HIIII" www June 13, 1950 Filed Feb. 2, 1948 W. H. LONG FIXTURE FOR MOUNTING FLUORESCENT LIGHTING STRUCTURES s sheets-sheet z 2,51 1,440 scENT June 13, 1950 w. H. LONG FIXTURE FOR MOUNTING FLUORE LIGHTING STRUCTURES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 2. 1948 Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FIXTURE FOR MOUNTING FLUORESCENT LIGHTING STRUCTURES 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel fixture for mounting a fluorescent lighting structure on a standard, and more particularly for mounting such a lighting structure on a hollow lamp standard located out-of-doors.

Here-to-fore, in mounting fluorescent lighting means on a standard, and especially when such lighting means was being mounted outdoors on an existing lamp standard that contained thc conventional lament lamps thereon, it was been the usual practice to first remove and discard such previously existing filament lamps from such standard, and then install the new uorescent lighting means in place thereof upon said standard; and such removal of the prior lamps was substantially necessary because it was the customary method of mounting such new lighting means uponthe top part of the standard and to connect said means to the top ends of the electric conductors that were extending downward thru said standard.

It is an essential object of this invention to provide a novel method, and also improved means yfor carrying the method into elect, for mounting a fluorescent lighting structure around a suitable standard, and especially around a tubular standard situated outdoors, so that this fluorescent structure can be mounted in its operative position around such a standard without any need of first dismantling or removing any fixtures supported on the upper part thereof.

A more particular object of this invention is to provide an improved fixture for mounting a fluorescent lighting structure in its operative position around a tubular standard, and especially around the intermediate part of a conventional lamp standard located outdoors which supports the customary incandescent lament lamps on its upper part, and without rst modifying the upper part of such standard or dismantling such lamps as are supported thereon, in order that such filament lamps may be retained and operated in conjunction with the fluorescent lights, if desired.

A further object of this invention is to provide such means and to accomplish such method in an expedient manner, and preferably to do so by providing such mounting means in several companion sections or parts, each of which, in conjunction with its fluorescent lighting elements supported thereby, will constitute an operative self-contained unit, which units or sections are readily joined together into a tubular form around the standard and secured in their operative position thereon, thereby providing a complete standard-surrounding lighting structure. f

Another object of this invention is to provide such an improved mechanism for mounting fluorescent lighting elements and the like, which mechanism is constructed substantially in the form of sections arranged each to function as a self-contained unit, s that one section may be utilized for partly surrounding a standard, as the lvforward part thereof, while the other section or sections of the mounting mechanism may be omitted, as from the rearward part of said standard, where such rearward part is located adjacent `a wall or the like and no illumination is desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a uorescent light mounting mechanism which is arranged and constructed, as by use of reilective wings, so as to reflect the light very brightly and provide highly efficient illumination.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a sectional fluorescent light mounting structure which is arranged for suiciently inclosing and protecting the lighting elements and essential parts, so that this structure is adapted for use outdoors, and to do so preferably by arranging such inclosing means also in sectional parts which can be readily brought together and secured in place around the lighting elements and parts which surround the standard.

These and various other objects and advantages are attained with this invention, as will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein this invention is shown in its preferred form, it being evident that other arrangements and forms of construction may be resorted to for carrying out the objects and purposes of this invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view illustrating this invention as being applied to a conventional standard located outdoors, which is herein shown as bearing the customary incandescent lamps at the top thereof and having the usual electric conductors for said lamps extending down thru the standard.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view thereof, taken online 2 2 of Fig. 1 and looking down- Ward.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the upper inner part of the mounting mechanism, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is substantially a longitudinal central sectional view of the invention, with parts broken away, being taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, on an 50 enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig, 6 is an elevational view showing the interior of the mounting mechanism, without uo- 55 rescent tubes.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional View, taken on line 'l-'l of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but showing how only one section or part of the entire light 60 mounting structure may be used and placed on the forward side of a tubular standard, while the other section may be omitted from the rearward side thereof.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of this invention, and showing it provided with inner holding flanges and also outei` covering strips over the outer flanges of the reecting wings.

My improved mounting mechanism iii is arranged and adapted for mounting fluorescent lighting elements or tubes II around a tubular post or standard I2; and as illustrated in the drawings this mechanism is particularly well adapted for mounting such lighting tubes II around a conventional standard I2 which carries on its top cross-.bar I3 one or more of the conventional electric lament lamps I4, and which standard has extending thru its hollow interior electric conductors I operatively connected with said lamps I4.

For the purpose of facilitating the convenient mounting of a plurality or set of such uorescent lighting tubes I I around an existing lamp-carrying standard I2, without any need of first dismanting the lamps I4 that are mounted thereon, my improved mounting mechanism Ill is provided and arranged in several separate but readily connectable parts I5, two such parts or sections I5 being shown in the drawings. Such parts I5 are similar in construction and each part is adapted to carry one or more of su-ch tubes II thereon. Said parts can then be readily brought together around the standard I2 and secured in position thereon, with the tubes II connected electrically with the conductor I5 in the standard. Hereby the existing lamps I4 may be retained on the standard and used in conjunction with these newly installed uorescent lights, if desired.

Each of these sections or parts I6 is arranged substantially in the form of a channel-shaped segment and is constructed to function as a selfcontained unit, so that each may be utilized alone if found expedient, and each oi the sections comprises supporting means Il for supporting the iluorescent tubes I I in spaced relation around the standard I2; also fastening means I8 for securing said supporting means II and the tubes Ii thereon in position on the standard, the tubes being electrically connected with the conductor I5 in the standard; and, where this structure is mounted on an outdoor standard, it further comprises c-losure means or housing means IS, for inclosing and protecting said tubes I I and the electric connections associated therewith. Each of these means I'I, I8, and I9 are arranged in separate and readily connectable channel-shaped sections, which are joined and secured together into tubular form around the standard, to support the tubes I I in spaced relation therearound.

The several sections or parts Il of the supporting means, when brought together to surn round the standard, are substantially in the form of a collar or tubular means 22 which extends around the standard I2, and it has secured thereto, as indicated by the elements 23 in Fig. 3, a head plate 24 and a foot plate 25 which plates carry on their opposing faces sockets 26 and 21, respectively, in which sockets said tubes I-I are operatively mounted. Said plates 24 and 25 are preferably also arranged in half sections that are connected by depending means 24 and 25', respectively, as indicated in Fig. 4. Each of these tubular means 22 is preferably also provided with a pair of fins or wings 23 extending laterally outward from its two opposite sides. Said wings can be made integral with their collar means 22, and

with it are preferably made of reective material, so as to greatly enhance the illuminating effect of this lighting structure. Said parts are brought together from the opposite sides of the standard and are connected by suitable means, as by screws 29 which secure the wings together. See Figs. 7 and 9.

The fastening means I8 herein is likewise arranged in two parts or sections, to conform to the two-part supporting means I1, and each of these sections includes a half part of an upper strap 3| and a half part of a lower strap 32, which are positioned around the upper and the lower parts of the tubular supporting means 22, and which contain end flanges or ears 33 and 34, respectively, that are secured to the wings 28 by said screws 29. Said means I8 further includes securing elements 35, which are shown herein as screws carried by said straps, being preferably adjustably threaded therein,` and they extend from the strap thru apertures provided in the tubular means 22 and then engage into the side wall of the standard, to secure these strap parts together with the tubular parts 2,2, and therewith also mount the supported fluorescent tubes I I, all firmly in proper position around the standard. Said securing elements 35 may likewise consist of other suitable elements, such as bolts extending thru the sections of the straps and collars and also thru the standard.

The lower sockets 21 on each section of the lower plate 25 have a suitable ballast 36 operably connected therewith, as by means of electric wires 3l, while the upper sockets 26 under the head plate 24 have electric wires 38 extending therefrom and. passing down thru a guard channel 39, one being provided on a wing 2,8l of each of said tubular supporting sections 22, and the lower ends of said wires 38 being suitably connected with the ballast 36,. The ballast and the lighting means is operably connected with the conductors I5 in the. standard, as by the connecting wires 4i).

Referring to Fig. 4 in the drawings, it may be noted that in this sectional form of construction such connection of the fluorescent lighting structure with said conductors VI .5 in the standard is accomplished :by providing an opening 4 1 in the Side Wall at an intermediate part of the standard, and extending vsaid wires 40 thruv said opening and connecting the same operably with the conductors I5 in such part of the standard. It will be evident that with this manner and means, for mounting the iiuorescent lighting means and connecting it with the conductors within the standard, any formerly existing electric lamps and their wir-ing connections at the top of the Standard need not be disturbed 01' diS- mantled, unless desired, and that these two means 0f illumination may hereby be retained and utilized in combination.

In Order to adapt. this lighting structure better for outdoor use, the closure means I9 is provided herein for protecting and housing the essential mechanism, and this means` I9 in the illustrated form comprises eylindrieelly Curved means 4.2 of; transparent material., such as glass, arranged in two parts or sections positioned around the tubesv II, in conformity with the two-part supporting means I'i. Said closure means further comprises a top cap 44 placed over the head` plate 24 and the adjoining wires 38, and a lower casing 45 placed around the ballast. and its connected wires 40, both the cap 44 and. the casing- 45 being in two sections which are joined around the inclosed lighting means and are secured together in a suitable manner, as by means of companion ears 46 on the cap and 41 on the casing and suitable screws to fasten them together, substantially as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings. These curved members 42 are engaged at the top and held in place by flanged means 50 depending from each'cap part 44, and said members are engaged at the bottom in two-part flanged or annular means 5l mounted around the plate 25 and the upper end of casing 45.

Means is preferably also included in this construction to provide a tightly closed junction, and preferably also a yieldable one, at the joining edge parts of the sectional curved means 42, and at the junctions of the ends of said means with the cap 44 and the plate 25, as by the use of a rubber strip 52 at each of said edge parts, and by the rubber rings 53 and 54 at the top and the bottom of said means 42, respectively.

For the purpose of protecting and securely retaining the yieldable strips 52 in place, and also for better holding the transparent curved means 42 in position, the outer end parts of wings 28 are bent over to provide holding flanges 55, each flange being disposed outward of a strip 52 and of an edge part of means 42. See Figs. 4 and 7. Said rubber strips may also be secured in place on the wings 28 with suitable adhesive means or the like.

In Fig. 9 is illustrated how a thin closing strip 56 of a weather resisting material, such as chrome metal, may be clamped outwardly around the two holding flanges 55, thereby providing a tighter weather-resisting closure and presenting a smoother exterior. Flanged angle members 5l may also be provided at the inward side of strip 52 and of the edge part of means 42, being secured to the wings 28, as by bolts 58 or the like.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated how this invention is adapted for mounting a section or part of this entire fluorescent lighting structure, in the form of a self-contained unit, on the forward part of a conventional standard l2, leaving the rearward part thereof devoid of lighting tubes, as Where such standard is located near a building or wall and any rearward lights are not expedient or desired. I

As this invention pertains essentially to the method and means for mounting a fluorescent lighting structure around a hollow standard and connecting its lighting tubes operably with conductors within said standard, and no claim is made in this case to any particular construction of such tubes or their sockets, nor to the associated ballast or the electric connections thereof with said sockets, it is believed that it will not be necessary to include any further or more specific disclosure of such ballast, sockets and tubes, and their connections beyond that which has been made herein.

It should be noted that the tubular means 22, which extends around the standard I2, is spaced outwardly from said standard, see Fig. 'I of the drawings, and it arises from the ballast 36, see Fig. 4; whereby this tubular means 22 constitutes a chimney which extends upwards from said ballast and thereby in effect provides a reflector chimney which functions to carry away and to reflect the heat developed by the transformers of said ballast; and it should be observed furthermore that by thus inducing the flow of heated air upwards from the ballast, by this tubular arrangement, it also serves to draw in cooler air around and thru the ballast, so as to reduce to a lighting structure.

' transformers of the ballast and thereby keep such xture comprising a channel-shaped section arranged as a self-contained unit, said section being equipped for supporting fluorescent tubes thereon spaced from the section, reflecting wings extending outward from the side edges of said section, means for electrically connecting the tubes of the section with a conductor provided in the standard, fastening means to secure the section onto the standard, and closure means including a top and a bottom member and a curved transparent member mounted between said members `and wings on each section and positioned outward of its tubes, all arranged and constructed that one sectional part of this fixture can be mounted operatively, as a self-contained unit, on one side of the standard, while omitting such a section from the opposite side of said standard.

2. A fixture for mounting a fluorescent lighting structure around a hollow lamp standard having an electric conductor -therein, said fixture comprising upper and lower supporting members carrying channel-shaped sections of reflective material readily joinable at their side edges and mountable around a part of said standard to form a tubular member therearound, means on said upper and the lower supporting members for carrying fluorescent lighting tubes positioned in spaced relation around the standard, means electrically connecting the tubes with the conductor in the standard and including electric wires extending thru an opening in the side wall of the standard, within the confines of this structure, Wings of reflective material extending outward from said sections, closure means including top and bottom members positioned beyond the ends of the tubes, to protect the latter and their carrying members and electric connections, fastening means including members around said tubular member and also elements carried by said members and engaging the standard to secure the fixture thereto, and curved transparent means carried by said closure means and surrounding the tubes, to adapt this structure for use outdoors.

3. A fixture for mounting a lighting structure around a lamp standard, said fixture comprising supporting means including several channelshaped sections having a reflective surface readily mountable around the standard and connectable at their side edges to provide a chimney therearound and to reflect light outwardly, means on said supporting means for carrying fluorescent lamps spaced apart around said chimney, ballast located directly beneath said chimney and tubes, means operatively connecting said lighting elements and ballast with electric conductors carried by the standard, fastening means for securing the structure in place around the standard, whereby said chimney will function to carry upwardly and to reflect outwardly heat generated by the ballast, and closure means including top and bottom members beyond the ends of said tubes and also curved transparent means carried between said members and surrounding the lamps.

4. A fixture for mounting a lighting structure around a lamp standard, said xture Ycomprising supporting means including several channelconsiderable extent the heat generated by the u Shaped sections having a reflective surface readaround and to reect light outwardly,;meansf,on said supporting means to support lighting'elep mentsA spaced apartv aroundsaid.chimney,r.r.ef1ect ing :means extendingA Y outward from xthezisides-L: of

said@ sectionsA and kserving i, in s. conjunction Vwith said .chimney for' reflecting; vlight from; said;;e1e

ments; means operatively` connecting saidlighting elements'with an electric current-supplying conductor carriediA by the standard, .fastening means for-securing the :structure inv place .around the standard;whereby said ehimneyzwll function vas a reflector chimney to-reect light and to carry away` heat outwardly and -upWar :`i-ly, VA and closure meansincluding top andbottom members -placed beyond the ends of -said elementsy and having curved :transparent means therebetween risur- 1 `rounding the elements.

LONG.

Thezlfollowi-ng: references Hare. ofk record ,in the file of thisv :patent:

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